Golf Stroke Alignment System

ABSTRACT

The interactive alignment system incorporates a luminescent element that highlights the club&#39;s centerline to facilitate aiming and provides a tangential projected halo on the golf ball from the center of club&#39;s face that helps visual targeting of the swing stroke.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/797,677 filed Dec. 13, 2012, which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention combines long evolved putter club design, but not limited to, with a modern optically enhance plastic to help better align the club and focus on the ball during the putting stroke of a golfer. The teachings of this invention are applicable to the design of all golf clubs.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Golf is frequently referred to as being a ‘game that is 50% fun and 50% putting’. Typically it takes 1, 2, 3 and sometime more shots (strokes) to hit your golf ball from the tee to the putting green. The golfer tries to hit the ball as far as possible between the golf tee and the putting green. However, once the ball is on the green (putting surface), the skilled golfers will then try to limit the number of strokes on the green to 1 or 2 putts. On the green the emphasis is different; the golfer needs to focus on accurately aiming and stroking of the golf ball.

Helping the golfer to better aim his putt, all putting clubs have some type of alignment means included on top of the club head of the putter. This alignment means could include a black or white line, a scribed line, series white discs, a notch, a slot et cetera on the top surface of the club. These alignment means usually extend from the front of the hitting surface to the back of the club.

Before the golfer approaches the ball to putt, many golfers first ‘mark’ the ball and reposition the ball in such a way that the ball's name or a scribed reference line can be used as a reference to help aim the putt with the face of the putter. Because the golfer must stoop to place the ball on the ground, it is difficult to accurately reposition and align the ball. After the ball has been repositioned, the golfer places his putter behind the ball and tries to align the ball's name or scribed reference line and the centerline markings on the club head. Commonly there is a little misalignment between the ball and the putter alignment means. Usually, the golfer favors the club alignment means over the positioning of the golf ball. Unfortunately, choosing the putter for alignment distracts the golfer's attention away from focusing on the golf ball to focusing on the putter's club head. Good putters don't focus on the putter head. Both teaching and playing professional golfers overwhelmingly favor 4:1 the need to concentrate the golfer's attention on the ball over focusing on the club head to be a successful putter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This invention transforms the putter into becoming an interactive element in the putting process. Imbedding a colored, transparent polymer like Acrilex's Fluorescent, Edge Color and LISA Acrylic plastics or ComPlex Plastics' Fluorescent Edge Acrylic plastic, but not limited to, creates a light emitting source that highlights the club's centerline and helps align the putter. At the same time, the Acrylic plastic projects a glowing halo forward on the circumference of the golf ball that is tangent to the putter's face. The optically brightened Acrylic plastic element is sandwiched or embedded along the centerline and/or across the face of the putter between the front hitting area and the club's heal. It is desirable that all or a portion of the brightened plastic element be exposed to visible light. The fluorescence of the plastic element is governed by the laws of geometric optics and light refraction. When light passes from a medium of high optical density to a medium of lower optical density, only a small portion of the fluorescent light can be emitted at the interface between the plastic and air. Most of the light is repeatedly reflected back and forth inside the material. The trapped light can emerge most effectively through the exposed narrow and/or beveled edge of material. A portion of the light trapped between the flat surfaces can be deflected through the opposing flat surface by the application of a reflective coating on the first flat surfaces. The same application of a reflective coating can be used to amplify edge brightness.

The Acrylic insert can be cast, thermoformed, mechanically cut, drilled, routed, laser cut, bonded, wedged, riveted, press fit, and glued to complement the unique physical design of the club head. The luminescence of the Acrylic element can be amplified, a portion of the surface may be printed, hot stamped, scribed, beveling or silk screened. Choice of the Acrylic element's color can complement the best color acuity of golfer.

The golfer, when using the interactive guidance system, places his putter directly behind the ball. Sighting the luminated Acrylic plastic line on the top edge of the putter, the golfer then positions the putter to aim striking the ball on the trajectory the golfer believes will best to stroke the ball and make the putt. The same luminated Acrylic line that facilitates putter alignment projects a forward glow from its face on the golf ball that is tangent to the club. The light halo that is created on the ball is most intense at the optimal point of contact when being stroked by the putter. The luminated point of contact on the ball now becomes the center of focus for the golfer about to strike his putt. The point of contact momentarily imprints the mind of the golfer and the focus of the putting stroke. Shifting the golfer's focus to the golf ball will improve alignment and putt accuracy.

In applications where traditional putt alignment methods are preferred, a single or double bevel undercut on the backside of the Acrylic plastic club face insert will project a luminated halo on the optimal point of contact on the golf ball for stroking a putt.

The alignment and highlighting optimal contact point teachings disclosed are not limited to the putter and can be usefully adapted to other golf clubs like irons, woods and a hybrid clubs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a generic putter and golf ball.

FIG. 1 a illustrates a front view of a generic putter.

FIG. 2 illustrates an insert modified putter and golf ball.

FIG. 2 a illustrates a front view of a bifurcated putter.

FIG. 2 b illustrates a front view of a putter with partial insert.

FIG. 3 illustrates a through hole modified generic putter with golf ball.

FIG. 3 a illustrates a front view of a thru hole generic putter.

FIG. 4 illustrates a generic putter head with a beveled face insert.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention seeks to help the golfer improve putting performance by better alignment of the putt and highlighting the point of contact on the golf ball. The Acrylic element in the club head that highlights the golf ball collects and/or absorbs light from their surroundings, conducting it within the material and re-emitting a greatly amplified of the light in a concentrated form at its edge. The majority of the illustrations demonstrate the critical interaction between the putter and the golf ball.

As a point of reference, FIG. 1 depicts a typical Putter 10, with its Putter Top 12, Putter Heal 13, Putter Hosel 14, Putter Center Line 15. In the putting process, the golfer tries to align the Putter Center Line 15 with the Golf Ball 35. Best putting results occur when the Putter Center Line 15 is tangent with the Golf Ball 35. Currently, the golfer must proximate the tangent alignment between the Putter Center Line 15 and the Golf Ball 35. FIG. 1 a provides a prospective front view of the Putter Face 11, Putter Top 12 with its Putter Hosel 14 and Putter Center Line 15.

FIG. 2 depicts a Modified Putter 19 with its Putter Top 12, Putter Heal 13, and Putter Hosel 14 that has been upgraded with Highlighted Surface 30 and Light Adsorbing Surface 31. Light is captured by the Light Adsorbing Surface 31, it is amplified and projected from the exposed edges of the Highlighted Surface 30. The intensified light emitted from the Highlighted Surface 30 strikes tangentially the Golf Ball 35 and Spotlights Ball 36. FIG. 2 a depicts a front prospective view of a Bifurcated Putter 16 with its Putter Face 11, Putter Hosel 14 that has been upgraded with Highlighted Surface 30. The full height Highlighted Surface 30 will project light tangentially on the Golf Ball 35 (not shown). FIG. 2 b shows a front prospective view of a partial Insert Mount Putter 17 with its Putter Face 11, Putter Hosel 14 that has been upgraded with Highlighted Surface 30. The truncated Highlighted Surface 30 projects light tangentially on the Golf Ball 35 (not shown).

FIG. 3 depicts a Rod Modified Putter 18 with its Putter Top 12, Putter Heal 13, and Putter Hosel 14 that has been upgraded with a rod shaped element that has the Highlighted Surface 30 and Light Adsorbing Surface 31. The emitted light from the Highlighted Surface 30 luminates tangentially the Golf Ball 35 (Highlighted Golf Ball 36). Likewise, FIG. 3 a shows a front prospective view a Rod Modified Putter 18 with its Putter Face 11, Putter Top 12, and Putter Hosel 14 with its rod Highlighted Surface 30

The Putter Head 32 in FIG. 4 depicts a putter head with its Putter Face 11, Putter Hosel 14, and Insert Recess 38 that will accept the Putter Insert 33. The Putter Insert 33 has a Light Adsorbing Surface 31, a Reverse ‘V’ Notch 35, a Forward Projecting Highlighted Surface 34, and a Reverse Attachment Surface 39. Selectively, the vertical Reverse ‘V’ Notch 35 can be partial or full length to create the Forward Projecting Highlighted Surface 34 within the Putter Insert 33. The Forward Projecting Highlighted Surface 34 will luminate a focus point for the golfer to concentrate on that is tangent to the club on the golf ball (not shown).

The illustrated examples are offered by way of illustration of the invention's versatility and not meant to limit the invention in any way. The present invention may be embodied in other forms without departing from its spirit of essential characteristic. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is therefore indicated by the appended claims rather than the foregoing descriptions. All changes which come within the meaning and scope of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope. 

1. A golf club head, comprising: a club head body, that happens to be a putter, having a ball striking surface, a top surface when viewed from the ball address position, and an alignment aid that includes a luminescent means that is perpendicular to the ball striking surface of club, provided on or integrally formed as part of the top surface that extends along the club head from the ball striking face to the rear area of the club head to help improve alignment and accuracy.
 2. The luminescent means in claim 1 is a polymer with special optical properties that absorb and condense light from its surroundings through the smooth cast surface and re-emit the light in a concentrated form at its cut narrow edge.
 3. The luminescent means in claim 1 can extend along the centerline of the club from the ball striking surface to the club's heal.
 4. The vertical luminescent means in claim 3 mounts on surface of the golf head.
 5. The vertical luminescent means in claim 3 can bifurcate the face of the golf club head.
 6. The vertical luminescent means in claim 3 is exposed partially on the face of the golf club head.
 7. The light emitted in claim 2 projected upward to highlight the club's centerline and facilitate aiming.
 8. The light emitted in claim 2 projects forward from the ball striking surface and projects a halo on a golf ball that is tangent to the face of the golf club.
 9. The projected halo in claim 8 provides a visible target on the ball for striking.
 10. A golf club head, comprising: a club head body, that happens to be a putter, having a ball striking surface, a top surface when viewed from the ball address position, and an alignment aid that includes a luminescent means that is embedded in the center of the ball striking surface of club, provided in the face of the club head that extends from the striking face to the rear area of the club head to improve alignment and accuracy.
 11. The luminescent means in claim 10 is a polymer with special optical properties that absorbs and condenses light from its surroundings through the smooth cast surface and re-emits the light in a concentrated form from its core.
 12. The luminescent means in claim 11 penetrates the body of the club and extends from the face to the opposite surface of the club.
 13. The light emitted in claim 11 projects forward from the face of the club and creates a halo on a golf ball that is tangent to the face of the golf club.
 14. The projected halo in claim 13 provides a visible target on the ball for striking.
 15. A golf club head, comprising: a club head body, that happens to be a putter, having a ball striking surface, a top surface when viewed from the ball address position, and an alignment aid that includes a luminescent insert means with a perpendicular notch in the center of the ball striking surface of the insert in the face of the club to improve putting alignment and accuracy.
 16. The luminescent means in claim 15 is a polymer with special optical properties that absorb and condense light from its surroundings through the smooth cast surface and re-emit the light in a concentrated form from its cut notched edge.
 17. A cut perpendicular notch is selectively beveled into the rearward facing insert that joins the luminescent face insert to the insert recess in the golf club body.
 18. The surfaces that flank the selectively beveled notch are not altered to absorb available surrounding light.
 19. The light emitted from the selectively beveled notch in claim 17 projects forward from the club's face and creates a halo on a golf ball that is tangent to golf club.
 20. The projected halo in claim 19 provides a visible target on the ball for striking. 